# Culturally/Regionally common foods and drinks you've never tried **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221 "2013-12-13T04:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/41 "2013-12-15T09:32:06Z")
Have seen references that carpetbag steaks were Australia’s national dish and I’ve never seen one served. Personally I think the concept is a waste of any decent steak. On more solid culinary grounds are the South Australian specialty of meat pie floaters. Of course, what croweaters eat should be a sage lesson to the rest of us. Again, I’ve never seen one served … even when in Adelaide. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/42 "2013-12-15T14:47:51Z")
I’ll usually try anything once. Other than certain flavors I don’t like (coconut, beer, licorice), I’ll give things a try. I can’t think of many I outright hated, but some just didn’t appeal and I don’t try them again. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/43 "2013-12-15T15:09:35Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > and manapua (steamed sweet bun with sugary meat filling): each exactly once. How is it possible to not like manapua? If I ever moved back to Hawaii (and I can’t unless I’m really rich because I get island fever something terrible) manapua would be 80% of the reason. For the two years I lived there, curry chicken manapua from 7-11 was a major component of my diet. And if even the 7-11 hot case is a good source the ones from people who care are even better. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/44 "2013-12-15T15:36:02Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’ve never had colcannon (mash with kale or cabbage) > [@zoid](#): > > That is a shame. It’s damn good. I prefer clapshot (mash with swedes). ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/45 "2013-12-15T15:39:40Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > When I was younger and more open, I lived in Hawaii. I tried laulau (a hunk of fat wrapped in a steamed taro leaf), poi, and manapua (steamed sweet bun with sugary meat filling): each exactly once. Once was more than enough for me when it came to poi - I didn’t even finish the small amount I was given. (My wife says it looks like what you would get if you had a blender big enough to put a whole elephant in.) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/46 "2013-12-15T15:50:28Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I’ve told my wife I AM GOING to buy lambie before we leave and go to the USA, and she is going to help me cook it. 😛 She just goes “disgusting” and claims to know nothing about lambie, or want to cook lambie. > > I am like at what other point in my life will I encounter cheap and fresh lamvie? > > [http://guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2011/05/14/luscious-lambie](http://guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2011/05/14/luscious-lambie) > > \*Conch snails. I’m looking forward to our vacation in St Martin (one month away!), in part because of access to conch dishes. We always dine at Yvette’s once or twice for their Conch Seviche. Improperly prepared conch is disgusting, but done correctly it is heavenly. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/47 "2013-12-15T19:28:18Z")
I’ve had chittlins in cornbread and to me it was like trying to chew calamari=rubber bands. People would cook up the brains in their scrambled eggs. (😕 There’s no barf emoticon.) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/48 "2013-12-15T20:20:56Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > How is it possible to not like manapua? If I ever moved back to Hawaii (and I can’t unless I’m really rich because I get island fever something terrible) manapua would be 80% of the reason. > > For the two years I lived there, curry chicken manapua from 7-11 was a major component of my diet. And if even the 7-11 hot case is a good source the ones from people who care are even better. Maybe for me it was just the Mapunapuna\* manapua \*a Honolulu exurb of body shops and warehouses. Fun language though. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/49 "2013-12-15T21:22:28Z")
Eyes & brains in backyard barbacoa. I’ve pretty much eaten everything else including menudo, lengua, cabrito. I ain’t too picky. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/50 "2013-12-15T21:39:23Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > On more solid culinary grounds are the South Australian specialty of meat pie floaters. Of course, what croweaters eat should be a sage lesson to the rest of us. Again, I’ve never seen one served … even when in Adelaide. IIRC, they tried to get us Vic’s to adopt the Pie Floater, selling it as a frozen meal in the supermarket. For obvious reasons, it didn’t quite take off. But you can buy ‘mushy peas’ in a can, so I guess there’s a few South Australian refugees who managed to cross the border at some point. I’ve never tried abalone. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/51 "2013-12-15T21:51:10Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > I prefer clapshot (mash with swedes). My parents – from north-west England – knew that mixture from their childhood, and made it. I refused point-blank to eat it (am not a big vegetable fan). There seem to be revolting names for this revolting concoction: yours as above – and my parents called it, if you’ll believe this, “stump mipe”. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/52 "2013-12-16T00:52:24Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Once was more than enough for me when it came to poi - I didn’t even finish the small amount I was given. (My wife says it looks like what you would get if you had a blender big enough to put a whole elephant in.) I tried poi on a trip to Hawaii. It tasted like dirt. It was like eating mud. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/53 "2013-12-16T01:33:39Z")
My husband bought coconut milk and I have no desire to try it. I’ve never tried oysters, scallops, cod, plantains, venison, tripe, honeydew, kiwi, blueberries, beer, hard liquor, dozens of other things and a local delicacy around here in NJ called Taylor ham. I have tried duck, veal, crawfish, Kobe beef, Vidalia onions, bok choy, huckleberries, fresh sweet corn nearly right off the stalk, apples I picked myself, clams gathered from Cape Cod, meyer lemons, Russian Kvass, pomegranate juice and many other interesting food items. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/54 "2013-12-16T14:11:45Z")
I am not ever going to eat scrapple. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/55 "2013-12-16T14:54:38Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I am not ever going to eat scrapple. Scrapple got discussed in a recent Cafe Society thread: “What foods do you only like because you were raised with them, you’d otherwise hate?”, commenced 11-30-2013. I’ve never tried scrapple (wrong country / continent, anyway). Impression got from such research as I did, is that it seems pretty disgusting; but I’d be prepared to give it a go, on the chance that that impression might be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/56 "2013-12-16T15:20:29Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > I’ve live in N.C. for 35 years and have never had chittlins(smelled 'em, though.:eek:) That’s all it took for me to know I wasn’t ever going to eat them, too. I had a roommate who decided to cook them once, and I had to leave the apartment. It smelled like he was frying a pan of pig poop. > [@](#): > > You must have had the heretic Western ketchup sauce. Eastern vinegar based sauce is da bomb. \Heh, good western barbecue shouldn’t need sauce.\ ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/57 "2013-12-16T15:47:17Z")
I will never ear Philippine boctac. It sounds like a duck abortion. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/58 "2013-12-16T16:36:58Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I will never ear Philippine boctac. It sounds like a duck abortion. Balut? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/59 "2013-12-16T19:00:47Z")
I love the people who say they’ve never tried a particular dish, then go on to describe it in a fair amount of detail. How the hell do you know what Brunswick stew is like if you’ve never had it? Your description betrays your ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221/60 "2013-12-17T19:15:22Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I love the people who say they’ve never tried a particular dish, then go on to describe it in a fair amount of detail. How the hell do you know what Brunswick stew is like if you’ve never had it? Your description betrays your ignorance. …um what? Other than a first person account of “taste” people can give a lot of details about a dish they have never tried. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culturally-regionally-common-foods-and-drinks-youve-never-tried/676221.md?page=4)